Electric switch.



C. J. KLEIN.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED DEC- 7. 1908. RENEWED 0CT.22,19l0.

1,171,850. ted F6b.'15, 1916.

1,171,850. Patented Feb. 5 916.

2 SHEETS-S T 2- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLESJ. KLEIN, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOB TO THE CUTLER-HAMMER MFG. COMPANY, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented 11eb 15 1916 Application filed December 7, 1908, Serial No. 466,319. Renewed October 22, 1910. Serial No. 588,541.

To all who-m it may concern Be it known that 1, CHARLES J. KLEIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee. in the county of Milwaukee and State of \Visconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being hadto the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this speclfication.

' My invention relates to improvements in .electric switches.

One object of my invention is to provide a switch, inclosed in a suitable casing, which may be detachably secured to any suitable plug or other receptacle thereby enabling the switch to be used in numerous different plug or other suitable receptacle, said lugs forming part of the electric circuit. Of course, the lugs might be provided on the plug and arranged to be inserted in the switch member. The lugs are preferably spring locked in the receiving receptacle to preventaccidental withdrawal thereof. The switch may be withdrawn from one plug or receptacle and inserted in another andhence its application is practically universal.

For the purpose of more clearly disclosing the characteristic features of my invention I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings a conventional type of lamp provided with a detachable switch constructed in accordance therewith.

Of course my invention is susceptible of various modifications and, as before stated. may be used in various other relations.

The views in the accompanying drawings are as follows:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the lamp; Fig. 2 is a view of. the switch and receiving receptacle therefor: Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33, Fig. 2: Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line H, Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is an end elevation of Fig. 2; Fig. 6 is a plan view of the switch with part of the casing removed and parts of the switch mechanism shown in section; Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on line .7-7, Fig. 6;

' Figs. 8, 9 and 10, are detail views of parts of the switch mechanism, and Fig. 11 is a detail view of one of the contact members of the receiving plug illustrated in Fig. 2. The lamp 1 is provided at opposite ends with cylindrical terminals 2 and 3, which fit into socket portions 4 and 5 respectively of a frame or supporting casing 6. The frame 6 is substantially semi-circular in cross-section and is provided at opposite sides with longitudinally extending tubular portions? and 8 adapted to receive the conductors 9 and 10 respectively of the supply circuit. Conductor 9 is electrically connected to a terminal piece in the socket portion 4, which is arranged to engage the terminal 2 of the lamp. Conductor 10 is electrically con nected to a contact provided within the socket portion 5, as will be hereinafter described. The socket portions 4 and 5 are held in place by means of the caps 11 and 12, which fit onto the ends of the frame or casing 6. I shall now describe in detail those parts which pertain tomy invention. The socket portion 5 may be formed of any suitable insulating material, preferably porcelain,

and is provided with a removable cover 13.

for giving access to the interior thereof. The socket portion 5 is'secured to the casing (i by means of a screw 14 which passes through the casing and fits into an internally screw-threaded tube 15, set into the socket. The tube 15 is provided at its upper end with a rectangular flange 16. which fits into a correspondingly shaped recess provided in the socket to prevent the same from turning. The lower end of the tube 15 is preferably flattened or expanded to prevent withdrawal thereof. The screw 14 also passes through the cap 11 and serves to hold the same in place on the casing. Secured in the socket, in the manner hereinafter described, are a pair of spring fingers 17, which are arranged on opposite sides of. and substantially parallel to. a wall or partition 19 provided in the socket. -Each of the spring fingers 17 has a portion 20, preferably of the shape shown in Fig. 11. which fits into a correspondingly shaped recess formed in the socket. Each of the portions 20 is provided with a lug 21, which fits in a notch in the socket. The spring fingers are held in place by means of screws 22 (Fig. 4) which pass upwardly through the socket and screw into clamping pieces 23 placed over the portions 20. The clamping pieces 23 are preferably of the same shape as the portions 20 of the fingers 17 The heads of the screws 22 are preferably counter-sunk in the socket. Passing through clamping pieces 23 and the portions 20 of the spring fingers, are binding screws 24, (Fig. 3). The binding screws 24 preferably fit into internally screw-threaded recesses in the socket so as to provide additional means for securing the spring fingers in place. One of the spring fingers 17 is provided with an extension 25, which terminates in the contact 26. The extension 25 projects into a recess formed in'the socket to receive the cylindrical terminal 3 of the lamp 1, and is so arranged therein that the contact 26 will engage said .terminal.

At opposite sides the socket is provided with apertures adapted to receive the conductors to be connected to the binding screws 24. In the present instance, only one of the binding screws 24 is necessary and, therefore, only one aperture is necessary, but as a practical expedient I prefer to construct the socket as shown in order that the same may be used in other relations. Conductor 10 is adapted to be electrically connected to one of the fingers 17 by means of a binding screw 24.

The several parts of the detachable switch which I have shown, are inclosed within an insulating casing, preferably formed in two parts, 27 and 28. The portion 28 of the casing preferably has a projecting part which fits into a correspondingly shaped recess in the portion 27. The casing is recessed to receive a movable contact 32, Which is mounted on an operating member preferably formed in three parts and comprising a pair of push buttons 31 and an intermediate portion 30. The portion 30 is so formed as to provide oppositely inclined surfaces on either side of a line transverse to the axis thereof, and is preferably formed of insulating material. These surfaces are preferably conical in form. The push buttons 31 are preferably screwed onto the ends of a rod 33 passing through and projecting beyond the ends of the portion 30. The push buttons extend through suitable apertures in the casing. The contact 32 is preferably formed in a single piece, and shaped as illustrated in Fig. 9, said contact being provided with contact fingers 34 and projections 35 arranged to slide in suitable grooves in the casing to prevent the contact from turning. Mounted within thecontact, and surrounding the portion 30 of the operating member, is a circular coiled spring 36, which causes the contact to quickly move from one position to another as the operating member is moved longitudinally. Extending through both portions of the casing are a pair of connectingrods or strips 37. The ends of the strips 37 are screw-threaded and project into external recesses formed in the'casing. The two portions of the casing are secured together by means of nuts 40, which fit onto the screw-threaded ends of the strips 37 and within the recesses before mentioned. With this arrangement the nuts are counter-sunk in the casing. After the, parts of the casing have been secured together in the manner just described, the recesses containing the nuts 40 may be filled with suitable insulating material, if desired. Extending in opposite directions from the connecting strips 37, and substantially at right angles thereto, are pro jections 38 and 39. The projections 39' extend through the casing and, as will be hereinafter explained, form lugs for attaching the switch mechanism to the socket. projections 38 are disposed on opposite sides of the operating member and are arranged to be engaged by the contact fingers 34 of the movable contact 32 when the operating mem her is moved in one direction. It will thus be seen that the movable contact 32 is arranged to electrically connect the projections 38. In practice, I prefer to form the pro jections 38 and 39 integrally with the strips 37 and, for convenience of manufacture, I

prefer to stamp the same from sheet metal.

The projections 39 are arranged to be inserted in the socket 5 on opposite sides of the partition 19, and between said partition and the spring fingers 17. The fingers 17 preferably have their extremities bent outwardly to facilitate the insertion of the projections 39 against which they bear and make electrical contact. In order to firmly hold the projections 39 in place, and yet permit their with- The drawal from the socket when desired, I preferably provide the spring fingers 17 with round projections 41, adapted to fit into recesses provided in the projections 39.

Briefly described, the operation of the switch is as follows: Assuming that the operating member is in the position illustrated in Fig. 7, the movement thereof will cause an expansion of the circular spring 36 until the center of the portion 30 passes said spring, whereupon the spring will contract and quickly throw the movable contact intoengagement with the projections 38. Movement of the operating member in a reverse direction will throw the movable contact out of engagement with said projections. With this arrangement it will be seen that in one position. the movable contact of the switch mechanism electrically connects the spring fingers 17, while in another position it breaks said connection.

When the switch is closed the circuit of the lamp may be traced from conductor 9. to terminal 2, through the lamp to terminal 3 and contact 26, thence to one of the contact connecting said stationary contacts,

fingers 17 through the switch mechanism to the other contact finger 17 and to conductor 10.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with an electric switch mechanism, comprising a pair of stationary contacts, and a movable contact for electrically connecting said stationary contacts, of a casing inclosing said switch mechanism, and means extending through said casing for actuating said movable contact, said stationary contacts having integral extensions projecting through said casing and arranged to be inserted in a complementary receptacle.

2. The combination with an electric switch mechanism, comprising a pair of substantially parallel stationary contacts, and a movable contact for electrically connecting said stationary contacts, of a casing inclosing said switch mechanism formed in two parts, said stationary contacts having extensions-passing through both parts of said casing for securing the same together, said stationary contacts being also provided with portions arranged to engage with portions of a complementary receptacle, and means extending through said casing for actuating said movable contact.

3. The combination with an electric switch mechanism, comprising a pair of substantially parallel stationary contacts, and a movable contact for electricallly connecting said stationary contacts, of a casing inclosing said switch mechanism formed in two parts, said stationary contacts having extensions passing through both parts of said casing for securing the same together, and

other extensions passing through said casing and arranged to be inserted in a complementary receptacle, 'and means extending through said casing for actuating said movable contact.

4. The combination with a switch mechanism, comprising a pair of stationary contacts and a movable contact for electrically a casing for said switch mechanism, said stationary contacts having extensions projecting through said casing, a complementary plug member having apertures therein for receiving said extensions, said plug member being provided with contact fingers adapted to engage and frictionally hold said extensions.

5. The combination with a switch mechanism, comprising a pair of stationary contacts and a movable contact for electrically connecting said stationary contacts, a casing for said switch mechanism, said stationary contacts having extensions projecting through said casing, a complementary plug member having apertures therein for receiving said extensions, said plug member being.

provided with-yielding contact fingers adapted to engage with said extensions, said fingers and said extensions being arranged to interlock.

6. The combination with an elongated electric lamp provided at opposite ends with terminal portions, one of said terminals being adapted to be connected to a source of supply, a socket for the other terminal portion of the lamp, said socket being provided with a terminal arranged to engage the lamp terminal and a terminal arranged to be connected to the supply circuit, and a snap switch for electrically connecting -and disconnecting the terminals of said socket.

7. The combination with an elongated electric lamp provided at opposite ends with terminal portions, one of said terminals being adapted to be connected to a source of supply, a socket for the other terminal portion of the lamp, said socket being provided with a terminal arranged to engage the lamp terminal and a terminal arranged to be connected to the supply circuit, and a switch mechanism detachably secured to said socket for electrically connecting the terminals thereof.

o.- The combination with an elongated electric lamp provided at opposite ends with terminal portions,'one of said terminals being adapted to be connected to a sourceof supply, a socket for the other terminal portion of the lamp, said socket being provided with a terminal arranged to engage the lamp terminal and a terminal arranged to be connected to the supply circuit, said terminals being provided with extensions, and a switch mechanism adapted to be detachably secured to said socket, said switch mechanism having portions arranged to be engaged by the extensions of said terminals.

9. The combination with an elongated electric lamp provided at opposite ends with terminal portions, one of said terminals being adapted to be connected to a source of supply, a socket for the other terminal portion of the lamp, said socket being provided with a terminal arranged to engage the lamp terminal, and a terminal arranged to be connected to the supply circuit, said terminals being provided with extensions and a switch mechanism having asuitable casing, said switch mechanism having portions thereof projecting through said casing and arranged to be inserted in said socket and to engage the extensions of said terminals.

10. The combination with an elongated electric lamp provided at opposite ends with terminal portions, one ofsaid terminals being adapted to be connected to a source of supply, a socket for the other terminal portion of the lamp, said socket being provided with a terminal arranged to engage the lamp terminal, and a terminal arranged to be connected to the supply circuit, said terminals having extensions, a switch mechanism comprising a pair of stationary contacts and a movable contact, and a casing for said switch mechanism, said stationary contacts having extensions projecting through said casing and arranged to be inserted in said socket and to engage the extensions of said terminal.

11. The combination with a switch mechanism comprising a pair of stationary contacts and a movable contactor for electrically connecting said stationary contacts, and a casing for said switch mechanism, said stationary contacts having extensions projecting through said casing, of a receptacle having apertures therein for receiving said extensions, said receptacle being provided ing, contact members therein having integral portions holding the parts of said casing together, and a snap switch mechanism carried in said casing and having a movable contactor cooperating with said contact members.

14. In an electric switch, a two-part casing, contact members therein having integral portions holding the parts of said casing to gether and having other integral portions at right angles to said first-mentioned portions and a switch mechanism carried in said casing and having a movable cont-actor arranged to bridge said second mentioned integral portions.

15. In an electric switch, a two-part casing, contact members therein, having integral portions holding the parts of said casing together and integral right angled portions comprising switch contacts within said casing and plug contacts without said casing, and a snap switch mechanism carried in said casing and having a movable contactor cooperating with said switch contacts.

In witness whereof, I hate hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES J. KLEIN.

Witnesses FRANK H. HUBBARD, SHEPLER W. Frrz GERALD. 

